Hawks assistant Damian Carroll has praised the work of fellow coaches Scott Burns and Darren Glass in helping drive the Hawks back into the top four in 2018.

Speaking ahead of the club’s qualifying clash with Richmond, Carroll said the two newest additions to the Hawks’ coaching panel had had an enormous impact on the Hawks this season.

While Carroll paid credit to the system that has seen the Hawks win four flags and make the finals eight times in the last ten years, he admitted Burns and Glass had helped to ‘reinvigorate’ the side since arriving at the club 12 months ago.

“I think a belief in the system is something that’s held us in good stead, but we’ve been reinvigorated as well with some coaches this year,” Carroll told Perth radio station 6PR on Tuesday.

“Scott Burns has come in this year and done a really good job with our stoppages and contest around the ball.

“And one of West Coast’s favourites over there Darren Glass has been a really great addition for us as our backline coach.

“So we’ve been open to some new things this year as well in our coaching group and certainly the players have bought into those things.”

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Up against reigning premiers Richmond on Thursday night, Carroll said the Hawks were putting a large focus on being precise with their ball use as they look to overcome the Tigers’ trademark tackling pressure and rock-solid defence.

“Obviously their pressure around the ball and especially in their forward half is really strong,” Carroll said.

“They’re just so stable defensively… they’re able to take those marks off the opposition’s boot so well and they just read it so well and build the ball up from there.

“So we’re going to have to be smart with our ball use because I think that probably helps us defend as well if we’re able to use the footy well.”

The Hawks will announce the side to face the Tigers at 6:20 pm AEST this evening.